Wow...

Quoted in Sacred Parenting by Gary Thomas (which I am rereading), was this great quote from Abigail Adams writing to her 9 year old son encouraging him to go on an overseas trip with his father.

It is not in the still calm of life...that great characters are formed. The habits of a vigorous mind are formed in contending with difficulties. Great necessities call out great virtues. When a mind is raised, and animated by scenes that engage the heart, then those qualities which would otherwise lay dormant, wake into life and form the character of the hero and the statesman.